| Britney Jean Spears was born on December 2, | | | | units worldwide, led by hit singles such as |
| 1981. She is a Grammy Award-winning pop | | | | "Opps!...I Did It Again", "Lucky", and |
| artist. Though she has had acting and | | | | "Stronger". By the early 2000's, she had |
| writing credits, she is primarily known for | | | | gained huge commercial success and public |
| her studio albums, music videos, | | | | appeal, inking deals with big companies such |
| chart-topping pop songs, and provocative | | | | as Pepsi. |
| stage performances. Her first single hit, | | | | |
| "...Baby One More Time," hit #1 in 1998. | | | | In late 2001, Spears released her third |
| | | | album, "Britney", which would go on to sell |
| Born in Mississippi and raised in Louisiana, | | | | over 746,000 copies in its first week in the |
| Spears was an accomplished gymnast competing | | | | U.S. The success of Spears' third album |
| in state-level competitions before breaking | | | | debut made her the only female ever in |
| out into the music scene. Spears earned | | | | SoundScan history to have her first three |
| public renown when she joined the New Mickey | | | | albums debut at #1 on the charts. The |
| Mouse Club in the early 90's. In 1992, she | | | | "Britney" album would go on to sell 15 |
| would win the first round of Star Search, but | | | | million copies worldwide. The following |
| would lose in the second round. After the | | | | year, Britney would star in a movie, |
| show ended, Spears took a five year break | | | | Crossroads, which would reach second place on |
| before storming the music scene. Spears' | | | | U.S. box-office charts in its opening |
| debut album, "Baby One More Time" sold over | | | | weekend. The film, however would not last |
| 28 million copies worldwide, propelled by its | | | | long in the top ten. Her highly-publicized |
| lead single, "...Baby One More Time", as well | | | | relationship with former 'N Sync front man |
| as the follow up hit single, "(You Drive Me) | | | | and former Mouseketeer, Justin Timberlake, |
| Crazy". Spears' sophomore album, "Oops!...I | | | | ended in March of 2002. |
| Did It Again" would go on to sell 24 million | | | | |